Sherbrooke Village 1800’s Style

Walking from building to building you get to see gardens and small fields in the middle of the Sherbrooke Village town with hay growing and pole fencing to either keep farm animals in or people out.

By Mike Harvey on May 3, 2017

Photo Credit: Herald File

Visiting Sherbrooke Village is like a step back into the late 1800s, with village interpreters guiding visitors through life as it was then in Sherbrooke. The main industries at that time were timber, farming and fishing on the shores of Saint Mary’s river. Then, in 1861, gold fever hit the small village and lasted for 20 years, with 19 mining companies setting up shop.

In 1969 the Sherbrooke village restoration area was established to preserve part of the village as it was in the late 1800s. This is now part of the Nova Scotia Museum system. With more than 25 buildings open to view and interpreters bringing the village to life as it was many years ago, watch and see how woodworking, pottery and stores operated when ships depended on the wind for power.

How to Find Sherbrooke Village?

Sherbrooke Village can be found about two-and-a-half hours from Halifax. Tourists can find it via two routes: Highway 104 to Antigonish then down the 347 to Sherbrooke; or from Dartmouth via highway 7 to Sherbrooke. A few routes across the province can also be taken to meet up with either the 7 or the 347 highways. We chose the 7 from Dartmouth. This coastal highway along the Eastern Shore of Nova Scotia offers a great view of the Atlantic ocean from the many small towns and villages along the way, places like Tangier, Spry Bay, Ecum Secum and many others.

Exploring the Areas’ Must Sees

Arriving at the Sherbrooke village, there is a good-sized parking lot with picnic tables. This is where visitors pay their entrance fee and can check out the gift shop. We chose to leave the gift shop until after we toured the village. We were there for a few hours and realized later that we had not even visited every building. While walking the streets it can be noticed that some houses and buildings have signs on them saying “Private.” We were surprised to hear that some of these buildings are not part of the museum village but are in fact still private homes or summer homes.

Joe McLane Blacksmith Workshop

Our first stop was the blacksmith workshop, Joe McLane Blacksmith. This is where tourists can see how iron is worked into many useful tools and household goods. Blacksmithing is an age-old trade that’s making a comeback, with some new shops opening in Nova Scotia in the past few years. There were moments when, walking down the streets in the village, that all we saw were period scenes — a quiet village street with a woman in a long dress walking along and in the distance a horse and wagon making its way through the village. We were there in June so it was a fairly quiet day.

Stopping by the Sherbrooke Village drug store we saw many items that were used back in the day to treat people for various ailments — yellow dock, blackberry-bark of root, tansy leaves and tops. With staff on hand to explain what some of them were used for, we were shown how pills were made in the back room of the drug store, all the while feeling relieved to have the medical system we have today.

Other Intriguing Spots

In the post office tourists can get a demonstration of the old phone system, which is still working, and see notices on the walls warning of the fines for letting the farm animals roam the streets.

A 50-cent fine was levied for letting sheep or geese go free in the streets, and $1 for the second offence. Letting a horse free was double the fine — $1, and $2 for additional offences. These notices were most likely printed at the shop next door, St. Mary’s Printery.

At Donald McDonald Tailor and Clothier, the most stylish hats and suits could be made to fit, with various materials to choose from. In the back of the store was a wood stove and heavy steel irons where workers could put the final touch to that special outfit.

Life in the Village

One aspect of life in a small village is very apparent as you roam the streets — most things needed for a home or farm are made to order right in the village. There is a woodworking shop where things like wooden spoons and even chairs are made, a pottery has cups and bowls available, and in the general store there are items that were made in other villages and other items that were shipped from Halifax. On the second level of the general store is Ambrotype Photography Studio. Here families or couples can get their family portrait taken as it would have been done in the 19th century.

The houses in the village are a mix of small farmhouses with small rooms and low ceilings, to the grand Greenwood Cottage which was built by John and Sarah Cumminger in 1871 — a large home that tells of their social status and wealth.

As we left the village we stopped at the gift shop where many of the items made by the local shops are for sale — from chairs to iron hooks for the kitchen, as well as t-shirts and snacks. The coffee was great.

The complex process of making a tartan cloth on the loom at Sherbrooke Village. Photo Credit: Herald File

Bonus: A Homeward Bound Adventure!

On the drive home, save time to stop at Taylor Head Provincial Park. The water is cold, but it’s a great beach!